Hal Greer - Strength

Harold Everett Greer (born June 26, 1936, in Huntington, West Virginia) is a former professional basketball player.

He played college basketball at Marshall University and was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals of the NBA in 1958. Greer played for Syracuse for five seasons, raising his scoring average to 22.8 points a game in 1961. He was selected for the NBA All-Star team that year. In 1963, the Syracuse Nationals moved to Philadelphia to become the Philadelphia 76ers. There, Greer became well-known as a teammate of Wilt Chamberlain, and starred on the powerful 1966-67 team that ended the eight-year championship reign of the Boston Celtics). In the 76ers' 15 playoff games that season, Greer averaged a team-best 27.7 points. Greer had an unusual but highly effective free-throw technique, shooting a jump shot from the charity stripe. He is usually considered the third-best guard of the 1960s, behind Oscar Robertson and Jerry West.

Greer played in 10 NBA All-Star Games and was the MVP of the 1968 game when he went 8-for-8 from the field and scored 21 points, a record-breaking 19 in one quarter. He also was chosen to the All-NBA Second Team seven times, and scored more than 20,000 points during his NBA career. His hometown has honored his success by renaming 16th Street, which carries West Virginia Route 10 as the main artery between the campus/downtown area and Interstate 64, as "Hal Greer Boulevard."

Averaged 22 ppg to lead 76ers to NBA Championship (1967), Played in 10 consecutive NBA All-Star Games (1961-70), NBA All-Star Game MVP (1968), Set record for most points scored in a quarter (19) during an All-Star Game (1968), Scored 21,586 career points, including 50 in one game vs. Boston Celtics, NBA 50th Anniversary Team (1996).

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• basketball

[wdbop3]

Such a cool player. Wonder why nobody else took the jump shot on their free throws...and he hit 80% consistently. Part of the awesome team that got wilt his title over russell when they beat SF and Barry and Thurmond out here.

[ddenuci]

There really weren't that many great guards from the 1960s. Of course, Robertson and West were in their own category and are still among the all-time greats. The next group is Greer and Wilkens. Right after that it's Sam Jones of the Celtics. I'm excluding Dave Bing because he only played toward the end of the '60s.

[ddenuci]

@AdreasTheGreat Twyman, at 6'6", and Hagan, at 6'4", were considered primarily forwards although each did play some guard. Arizin, at 6'4", was also a guard/forward, but I believe when he was included in the 50 Greatest Players of all time in 1996, he was listed as a guard. So, I agree with you on Arizin; I only left him off because I thought of him as a small forward. Cousy was, no doubt, one of the greatest and I only left him off the list because I consider him primarily a '50s player.

[AdreasTheGreat]

@ddenuci well i can also mention twyman,guerin,hagan,cousy,ariz­in,ruy rodgers...barnett was laso very good player!

[Biswalt]

@ddenuci: You should also think about Guy Rodgers who also played very well.

[dalmain77]

Another not often mentioned great.

[FrsBigeasy]

A Great Scorer.

[russphilly]

Hal Greer...& the 67 76ers!! the greatest!